I am a Tech for a local Honda dealership. Most of the time we never see any coolant at the tailpipe when there is an overheat condition, however the upper and lower radiator hoses will pressure up pretty fast and be rock hard, we use a gas analyzer and sniff at the top of the radiator neck to check for CO in the coolant. I'd pull the head and get the head pressure checked and inspected for warpage. If it's good then use a HONDA headgasket and also REPLACE the T-stat with a HONDA one. HOW many miles are on the motor and
T-Belt? It might be a good time to replace the waterpump too~ Blown headgaskets in Civic's are common, especially if the T stat has never been replaced and normal maintenance is NOT performed. What is the condition of the radiator?
After re-reading the post I see that you say the car is using water, look at the weep hole on the water pump to make sure there isn't a green crud buildup, if there is it's water pump time too!
The car looks in great shape, I would assume it was well taken care of by the people we got it from.
The Rad is new, the cap is new, t-stat works I checked it.
The hoses don't build pressure right away.
I don't have a gas analyzer.
Are you getting a good flow? I just did this for my Office Manager last week. Same symptoms and it turned out the be a water pump. We replace it and put in a new timing belt and that did the trick. She had some flow but not enough to cool the Civic down. Just another thought.
I know you say the T-stat is working, but is it a HONDA one? WHY was the radiator replaced? If the T-stat failed and the radiator cracked then I'd say the headgasket is also blown~ But hey i'm just a Honda tech.... Almost all the Civic's we do blown head gaskets on have a bad radiator/T-stat problem and almost never have wet plugs. AFTERMARKET parts don't have the same quality/performance that factory HONDA parts do! We get a fair amount of complaints that "my car runs bad" and it's because of aftermarket parts being installed trying to beat the factory pricing. I hate to say this but cheaper parts = cheaper performance. We have a sign at work that reads; Almost factory parts ALMOST work...
I am not sure about the heater.
The car is actually my girlfriends daughters car, Grandpa is taking it to a shop.
He knows the owner, so I will know for sure on Saturday.
I have enough cars in my fleet already.
I think the guy is ripping him off, he says everything is melted and now needs a new motor.
I want to go and check it out myself, but I don't want to piss off the soon to be in-laws.
There was no coolant in the oil, no oil in the coolant. The car still ran great had lotsa of power for a Honda, how could it need a new motor?
When it did overheat it went right back down to normal within seconds.
you could hear the fan and watch the needle go right back down.
It's just like the transmission chain stores. Many offer a free computer error code diagnosis to get you in to the shop. Let's see, the error code says you need a new exhaust sensor, but wait... you also need a complete tranny rebuild. I'd look for a second opinion. If it runs well, doesn't smoke and has no fluid problems, just drive it. They are bullet proof.
That's my thought Chuck, my 90 honda has 305,000 miles and is still running strong.
The smog guy six months ago, said this car runs strong, I said proudly, "Yes, it does."
I have seen several Civic's melt the T-belt cover/s due to overheating and they still ran good. Just get the head inspected and replace the head gasket, melted cover/s and the engine should be ok. I'd also replace the T-belt and w/pump too~
didn't state miles on the civic but i have seen only 2 in my time with honda where the blades on the water pump where worn off and then it's not working as designed causing it to over heat. if you take the head off you might as well replace timing belt,front engine seals and water pump. have you pressure tested the car? also take to a honda dealer and check for a blown head gasket by checking with a gas analyzer. rather pay the 80 buck to have diag right then guess!!! oh beadvised use honda parts don't skeep honda cars don't like aftermarket parts. best of luck
We are going to the shop tomorrow to check it out.
I am not sure how much they have done so far.
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